Apparatus for installing flexible strip material in green concrete



Get. 21, 1969 v, w KOCH 3,473,450

APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING FLEXIBLE STRIP MATERIAL IN GREEN CONCRETE FiledJune 12, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet l $2 FIG 2 3626 86 INVENTOR. VERGIL W. KOCHI) i "54M ATTORN'EYS Oct. 21, 1969 v. w. KOCH APPARATUS FOR INSTALLINGFLEXIBLE STRIP MATERIAL IN GREEN CONCRETE Filed June 12, 1967 FIG 3INVENTOR. VERGIL W. KOCH ATTORNEYS FBG....4

Get. 21, 1969 v. w. KOCH R APPARATUS FOR INS LING FLEXIBL MATERIAL GREENCONCR .5

Filed June 1.2, 1967 3 Sheets-Sneet 3 INVENTOR. VERGIL W. KOCH w Ws'MATTORNEYS nited States Patent 0 3,473,450 AZPPARATUS FOR INSTALLINGFLEXIBLE STRIP MATERIAL TN GREEN CONCRETE Vergil W. Koch, 105 HobartAve., San Mateo, Calif. 94492 Filed June 12, 1967, Ser. No. 645,256 Int.Cl. E010 19/00, 23/00 US. Cl. 94-39 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREconcrete with ease. When positioned at the proper depth L the jaws ofthe gripping beam are opened to release the strip material, after whichthe gripping beam is withdrawn upwardly.

This invention relates to an apparatus for installing in green concretea flexible expansion joint strip material which forms a weakened planejoint when the concrete has cured.

In the construction of flat concrete slab-type structures such asroadways, aircraft runways, taxiways and parking areas, it has long beena problem to accommodate the contraction of the concrete after it hasbeen poured and cured and also its subsequent expansion and contractiondue to environmental conditions including ambient temperature changes.It has been found that expansion strips made from flexible material andinstalled transversely at various spaced apart intervals in the concreteslab will cause the cured concrete to crack beneath the strips and thusalong predetermined lines below the slab surface. Thus, the stripmaterial embedded in the slab allows the necessary expansion andcontraction of the concrete at its surface and thereby prevents anysurface cracking. Expansion joint strip material, such aspolyvinylchloride which has been developed and used successfully, isgenerally narrow and thus quite flexible; and its height and thus thedepth of its penetration into the concrete when installed may varydepending on the thickness of the concrete slab. In order to perform itsfunction properly, this flexible strip must remain absolutely straightwhen installed with no bends, kinks or ripples in either the horizontalor vertical planes. Because of its inherent flexibility such stripmaterial had a normal tendency to become distorted, bent or curved whenforced into green concrete by procedures and apparatus heretoforedevised.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusthat will overcome the aforesaid problem and facilitate the installationof flexible expansion joint strip material into green concrete at thedesired location and depth and without causing or allowing the materialto wist, bend or distort in any way.

More specifically, an object of my invention is to provide an apparatusthat grips a strip of flexible expansion joint material along its entirelength, positions it above the concrete at the desired location,penetrates the green concrete with the strip material to form adepression, and then releases the material within the depression so thatthe strip of material remains in the concrete straight, free from curvesor bends and with its upper edge flush or parallel with the concretesurface.

3,473,450 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 ice Yet another object of my inventionis to provide an apparatus capable of installing expansion joint stripsof various predetermined lengths on green concrete surfaces. Myapparatus is easily adjustable to accommodate various types of concreteslab structures which require specific lengths of strip material, andthe precision of installation is maintained even for the relatively longpieces of material.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for installingan expansion strip in green concrete that can be operated with precisionby relatively unskilled labor and also an apparatus that is easy toservice and maintain.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of theaforesaid type which is particularly easy and convenient to load with alength of strip material before the apparatus is operated to install it.

The apparatus according to my invention which accomplishes the aforesaidobjectives is characterized by an elongated gripping beam comprised ofrigid portions that pivot together in a scissors-like action to hold theflexible strip material in a straight unbent position. With the stripmaterial thus held firmly the rigid beam portions together form aknife-like edge that easily penetrates the green concrete when adownward force is applied. The rigid portions may be vibrated as a unitto increase their penetrating ability. The gripping beam is so shapedthat it essentially positions itself and thus the strip material at thedesired depth in the concrete, and when its proper position is reachedit is easily actuated to release the strip material and withdraw fromthe concrete.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description together with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing an apparatus embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation and in section takenalong the line 22 of FIG. 1 with portions broken away to conserve space;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in end elevation with portions broken away;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary view in elevation and insection taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in end elevation showing my apparatus with the stripmaterial gripping beam in its loading position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the frame in theextended position;

FIG. 7 is another fragmentary view in perspective showing an extensionof the gripping beam;

FIGS. 8-12 are a series of enlarged, fragmentary views showing theoperative steps of my apparatus for installing an expansion stripaccording to the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 8 shows the expansion strip initially inserted in the grippingbeam;

FIG. 9 shows the gripping beam closed on the expanslon strlp;

FIG. 10 shows the gripping beam after being inserted in green concretewith the expansion strip;

FIG. 11 shows the gripping beam as it is being withdrawn from the greenconcrete, leaving the expansion strip embedded thereon; and

FIG. 12 shows the expansion in place after the gripping beam has beenwithdrawn.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 20 embodying theprinciples of the present invention as it appears when in normal use forinstalling an expansion strip of flexible material in green concrete.The apparatus is particularly adaptable for installing a strip material22, as shown typically in FIG. 12. The dimensions of such material canvary for different uses but generally it has a tapered cross sectionwith its thicker portion at the upper end. The height of the materialand thus the depth which it must penetrate the concrete is several timesits greatest thickness and can vary depending on the thickness of theconcrete slab that is to be formed. The strip material is usually madefrom a flexible elastomeric or plastic material such aspolyvinylchloride and thus it is seen that with its tape-likeconfiguration, it must be well supported in order to be installed inconcrete withou bending or twisting in any manner. Aside from the foregoing, it should be understood that the apparatus is not limited to usewith only the strip material shown and the invention embodied therein isapplicable to the handling of other elongated, flexible materials.

In broad terms, my apparatus comprises a rigid frame 24 which is longenough to extend across a section of green concrete 28 and is providedwith first and second sets of wheels 26 and 27 which can be usedalternately to move the apparatus into position over a recently pouredconcrete section. The first set of wheels 26 are fixed in position andadapted to ride on rails or forms on the opposite sides of a concretesection. The second set of wheels 27 are extendable rather than fixed sothat the apparatus can be supported on a hardened surface other thanrails if desired. The frame supports a rigid, elongated gripping beam 30that also extends across and just above the concrete and which can bemoved vertically downwardly to penetrate into it. This beam functions toreceive and grip a precut length of flexible expansion joint material 22which must be placed in the concrete before it solidifies in order toprovide for a weakened expansion joint after the concrete cures. Itprovides a means for gripping the expansion strip material, forinserting it into the concrete and for releasing it when within theconcrete so that the strip will remain at exactly the proper positionand depth necessary to perform its function after the beam is withdrawn.

The apparatus is devised so that the manipulation of the gripping beamto provide the aforesaid functions as well as others may be accomplishedby various suitable power means such as a hydraulic or pneumaticpressure source. Since the details of such a power system areconventional they will not be shown or described in detail except thatparticular actuator means and control valves are shown, the latter beingarranged conveniently at a control console 32 at one end of theapparatus.

Describing now the apparatus in greater detail, the frame 24 comprises apair of horizontal end beams 34 that are parallel and spaced apart adistance greater than the width of the concrete section being poured. Oneach end beam are mounted a pair of the fixed wheels 26 which areadapted to ride on rails 36 or the concrete forms that usually areprovided on opposite sides of the slab or strip that is beingconstructed. The extendable wheels 27 are of the swivel type and each issupported at the extreme end of an end beam 34 on a jackscrew mounted ina cylinder 35 which is adjustable vertically by a hand crank 37 eachcylinder being attached to the frame by a pair of bracket members 39.

Fixed to each of the end beams, as shown in FIG. 2, are two spaced apartupright frame members 38 and 40 which are connected by a cross member 42at their upper ends. Journaled in each of the upright frame members 38at opposite ends of the apparatus is a rotatable shaft member 44 havingan inner end fixed to one side of a plate 46. Welded to the other sideof each plate 46 and aligned with its shaft is an elongated box beammember 48 that fits slidably within a central sleeve member 50 having arectangular cross section that receives the box beam members at bothends with a fairly snug but slidable clearance. As shown, the box beamsextending from each upright frame member 38 fit well within the sleevemember so that the end beams 34 can be spread apart farther whennecessary to increase the length of the apparatus and thereby enable itto install expansion strip material in wider slabs of concrete. Spacedon opposite sides of the sleeve 50 and parallel to it are similarlyextendable support beams 52 and 54, each being comprised of a pair ofslidably connected tubular sections that are fixed at one end to the endbeam 34. These adjustable support beams not only strengthen andstabilize the frame 24, but they help to maintain the end beams parallelto each other as the apparatus 20 is moved from one location to another.

Fixed to the central sleeve 50 are a plurality of spaced apart linearactuators 56 each having a ram 58 that is connected to the gripping beam30. Two of these actuators are used in the embodiment shown, but threeor more could also be utilized if desired on larger machines. Adjacentto each actuator is a tubular member 60 that is also fixed at a rightangle to the central sleeve at one end and is slidably connected with aguide member 62 which fits within the member 60 and is connected at itslower end to the gripping beam. Thus, the actuators provide a means formoving the gripping beam 30 vertically with respect to the horizontalcentral sleeve member 50 while also maintaining it parallel thereto.These actuators are preferably connected in parallel in a conventionalmanner and may be powered by any suitable hydraulic or pneumaticpressure system (not shown). They also are preferably controlled tooperate in unison by means of a standard type valve 64 which may bemounted on the control console 32 forming the frame crosspiece 42 at oneend of the apparatus.

The gripping beam 30 which is an important feature of my apparatus 20provides a means for grasping a piece of flexible expansion stripmaterial 22 along its entire length and retaining it as the actuatorsextend the beam 30 downwardly and force it into green concrete at thedesired location. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, this beam comprises twoelongated but rigid members 66 of similar cross section which are joinedtogether by an axially extending, piano-type hinge 68. Each beam member66 has a lower leg portion 70 having a depth that is somewhat longer incross section than the crosssectional height of the expansion stripmaterial 22. Extending at a right angle from the top edge of each lowerleg portion and outwardly from the hinge axis is a flat intermediateportion 72, and extending upwardly from the outer edge of theintermediate portion is an upper wall portion 74. Fixed to the outsideof each of these upper wall portions is a channel member 76 thatprovides a significant stiffening to the gripping beam 30 and helps toprevent any deflection that would detract from the precision with whichthe strip material must be installed. The hinge 68 is attached to bothof the intermediate portions 72 so that a predetermined separation ofthe lower leg portions is maintained along this hinge axis, the amountof separation being somewhat greater than the width of the expansionmaterial 22 at its thickest point. When the upper wall portions 74 whichare substantially parallel to the lower leg portions are pushed apart asthe beam members 66 pivot about the hinge axis, the lower leg portions70 come together in a scissorslike action. Thus, if a flexible strip ofexpansion material is placed between the lower leg members it is grippedtightly between them when the upper wall portions 74 are spread apart.In their gripping position, the bottom edges of the lower leg portionscome closer together and thus form a tapered wedge-like cross sectionwhich facilitates the penetration of the gripping beam 30 into greenconcrete.

The actuators 56 are connected to the gripping beam 30 at pointssubstantially along its center line in a mannet that allows the beam tobe extended or retracted and yet provide its normal scissors-likeaction. For each actuator a transverse plate 61 extending across the topof the gripping beam is fixed at one end to a pin 63 which is pivotallysupported in a pair of bearing lugs 65 fixed to the supporting channelmember 76 on one beam member 66. At its other end the plate 61 isprovided with a series of slots 67. A metal pad 69 fixed to the sidechannel 76 of the other beam member 66 extends beneath the plate andsupports a series of bolts 79 that extend upwardly through the slots.67. Thus, as a limited movement of the gripping beam members 66 takesplace during its scissors action, the plate can move relative to thebolts and yet takes the entire load of the gripping beam applied to theactuators, the ram of each of the latter being pin-connected to a stud81 fixed to the center of a plate 61.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, control of the scissorslike gripping actionof the gripping beam 30 is accomplished by a plurality of double-acting,clamping actuators 77 that are spaced apart along it. Each of the latteractuators are pivotally connected at one end to the top of one upperwall with its ram 78 being connected to the opposite upper wall so thatsimple movement of the actuators will produce the desired pivoting ofthe beam members 66 about the hinge axis. Like the lifting actuators,these latter actuators may also be hydraulically or pneumaticallypowered and are controlled by a conventional valve 80 mounted on thecontrol console 32.

Spaced apart on the gripping beam 30 and preferably adjacent to eachscissors actuator 77 is a suitable vibrator device 82. A typical beam,as shown, may utilize three or more such vibrator units all of which arespaced at intervals on the beam and connected in parallel so as to becontrollable by a suitable switch 84 on the control console. Thesevibrators produce a small amplitude vibration in a vertical plane andare turned on when the gripping beam is being inserted into and when itis being withdrawn from the green concrete. Various types of vibratorswhich are commercially available may be utilized and thus they will notbe described in detail.

In order to load the gripping beam 30 with a strip of expansion material22, it is possible to swing it upwardly from a position wherein the beamis aligned vertically beneath the central sleeve 50 to a position whereit extends substantially horizontally outwardly from the sleeve (seeFIG. 5). This approximate 90 of rotation is accomplished by a pair ofactuators 86 located at opposite ends of the apparatus. Each of thelatter actuators is pivotally connected to an upright frame member 40and its ram 88 is connected by means of a link 90 to a crank arm 92fixed to the rotatable shaft 44 that is journaled in the other uprightframe member 38. Both of the actuators are again powered by a suitablehydraulic or pneumatic pressure source and are controlled by a singlevalve 94 which also is conveniently installed on the control console 32.

As mentioned previously, the frame 24 may be lengthened by spreading theside beams 34 apart when necessary in order to accommodate concrete slabstructures such as roadways, runways and the like of varying widths. Asshown in FIG. 6, the box beam members 48 can slide outwardly from thecentral sleeve 50 while still providing it with ample support. Thetelescoping support beams 52 and 54 can be extended in the same manner.When the frame is extended in this manner an auxiliary gripping beamsection 300 can be added to the main gripping beam 30 as shown in FIG.7. This additional section has the same configuration in cross sectionas the main gripping beam and comprises a pair of rigid, pivoted beammembers 66:: which are connected by a piano-type hinge 680. Fixed withineach of its channel portions 7612 along its upper edge is a connecterbar 96 that fits within the aligned channel portion of the main grippingbeam 30. The auxiliary beam section thus attached can functioneffectively in the same manner as the main gripping beam.

The operation of my apparatus 20 may be reviewed briefly by particularreference to FIGS. 8-12 which illustrate somewhat diagrammatically thesteps for installing a section of expansion joint strip material. InFIG. 8

the gripping beam is shown in the up position for loading a piece ofstrip material between the jaw-like lower leg portions 70 of thegripping beam 30. The beam 30 is moved to this horizontally orientedposition by manipulation of the valve 94 to operate the actuators 86which rotate the shafts 44 in the upright frame members 38 and thus thecentral sleeve 50. With the strip material properly inserted, the jawsof the gripping beam 30 are closed by manipulation of the valve tooperate the scissors actuators 77 (see FIG. 9). Now, the valve 94 isagain moved to operate the actuators and move the gripping beam 30 intoits vertical position which is reached automatically with precision asthe actuators return to their fully retracted position. The verticalinserting and lifting actuators 56 are now operated by manipulation ofthe valve 64 and as their actuator rams extend at the same rate, theclosed gripping beam with the strip material 22 held firmly, movesdownwardly to engage the surface of the green concrete (see FIG. 10). Atthis point the switch 84 may be placed in the on position to energizethe vibrators 82. The gripping beam thus continues its downward traveland penetrates the concrete at a substantially uniform rate along itsentire length.

When the gripping beam has penetrated to its proper depth itsintermediate portions 72 are flush against the surface of the concrete.The valve 80 is now manipu lated to open the jaw-like lower portions 70of the gripping beam which releases its clamping pressure. As shown inFIG. 11, with the vibrators still in operation, the valve 64 is nowmoved to the retract position, and the open gripping beam 30 iswithdrawn from the concrete.

After the withdrawal of the gripping beam, the wet concrete willnormally flow around and fill against the sides of the expansion jointstrip material, which is straight without any curves or twists, as shownin FIG. 12. After the concrete has set, an upper portion 98 of the stripmaterial 22 which is preferably attached to the main lower portions by athin web, may be removed and replaced with a suitable filler such asasphalt. As the concrete cures and subsequently contracts it will crackdirectly beneath the installed expansion strip, but this will relieveinternal stresses and prevent any surface cracking of the concrete slabeven during substantial fluctuations in ambient temperatures.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention re lates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for installing an elongated flexible strip of material ingreen concrete comprising:

aframe;

a horizontal beam supported by said frame and having elongated movablejaw members for gripping and supporting a length of flexible material;

first actuator means on said beam for closing and opening said grippingjaws, said jaws forming, when closed, a rigid, wedge-shaped enclosurefor the flexible material having a relatively narrow lower edge;

a second actuator means connected to said frame for moving saidhorizontal beam downwardly with sufficient force when said jaw membersare closed to penetrate a section of green concrete and then upwardlyinto a retracted position; and

controllable power means independently connected to said first andsecond actuator means.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said movable jaws ofsaid horizontal gripping beam are elongated planar members, and a hingepivotally connecting said elongated members together along substantiallytheir full length.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said elongated jawmembers each have a lower leg portion, an intermediate portion extendingoutwardly from the upper edge of each said lower portion, and a hingefixed to said intermediate portions and maintaining said lower legportions at a spaced apart distance along their upper edges.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein, said control meanscomprises a series of spaced apart hydraulic valves on a horizontalplate fixed to one of said upright frame members and forming a controlconsole.

5. Apparatus for installing an elongated, flexible strip of material ingreen concrete comprising:

a frame including a pair of upright members and a cross beam with endshaft members rotatably supported in said upright members;

a horizontal lbeam connected to said cross beam and having elongatedmovable jaw portions for gripping a piece of flexible material along itssides;

first actuator means on said beam for closing and opening said grippingjaws;

a second actuator means connected to said frame and said cross beam formoving said horizontal beam downwardly with suflicient force topenetrate a section of green concrete and upwardly into a retractedposition;

a third actuator means for rotating said cross beam in said uprightframe members to thereby allow said gripping beam to be moved from itsvertical position to a substantially horizontal position for loading;and

power means connected to said first, second and third actuator means.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said cross beamincludes a central tubular member having a longitudinal flat-sidedpassage and box beam members fixed to said end shaft members andslidably connected with said central member.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said horizontal beamincludes upper leg portions extending upwardly from the outer edges ofsaid intermediate portions and a channel member fixed to the outsidesurface of each upper leg portion.

8. The apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said lower,intermediate and upper portions of said elongated beam members areformed from an integral piece of sheet metal material.

9. The apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said first actuatormeans comprises a plurality of linear actuators spaced apartlongitudinally on said gripping beam with their ends pivotally connectedto the upper ends of said elongated beam members.

10. The apparatus as described in claim 9 including a vibrator meansconnected to said gripping beam substantially adjacent to each saidfirst linear actuator.

11. Apparatus for installing an elongated, flexible strip of material ingreen concrete comprising:

a frame including end beams, upright frame members on said end beams andspaced apart rail wheels fixed to each said end beam;

a horizontal gripping beam supported by said frame and having movablejaw portions for supporting a length of flexible material;

first actuator means on said beam for closing and opening said grippingjaws;

a second actuator means connected to said frame for moving saidhorizontal beam downwardly with sufficient force to penetrate a sectionof green concrete and upwardly into a retracted position;

transverse extensible support beam members interconnecting said endbeams;

an extensible central beam connected to the upper ends of said uprightframe members; and

an auxiliary gripping Ibeam extension connectable to one end of saidgripping beam.

12. The apparatus as described in claim 11 including a plurality ofvertically extentable wheels fixed to said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,267,301 5/1918 Wieberg 94-511,804,337 5/1931 Heltzel 94-51 2,014,894 9/ 1935 Heltzel 9451 2,729,1521/1956 Carnes 94-51 3,246,390 4/1966 Brown 94-51 X 3,270,636 9/ 1966Worson 9451 3,286,607 11/1966 Middlestadt 94-51 3,335,647 8/ 1967 Thorp94-51 NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

